Letters

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday June 7, 2008

Children onboard

As an avid traveller (and reader of Traveller), I thought I would share some tips for travelling with children. Our son, aged 7, began globetrotting with us when he was a baby.

We stay for a week or more in each town or city in centrally located apartments or cottages. We shop locally, walk a lot and check out where the local kids are playing. In New York last month after visiting museums in the mornings, we spent the afternoons in Central Park: in the playgrounds, boating, biking and watching baseball. Hiring a bike is a great way to explore. We've had fun riding around the Villa Borghese in Rome and in and around Washington DC. In winter in Europe we found each town had an outdoor ice rink full of local kids skating for EUR2 a session.

Research is vital and easy online. We involve our son so he gets a say in the planning. Do other readers have tips for travelling with children?

Michele Carton

Chilled by 'frozen' cash

My wife and I have just spent three nights in the Barossa Valley and three nights in Adelaide, using a $1000 Accor gift voucher. When we arrived at the first hotel to check in, despite the voucher, we had to tender our credit card in case we incurred additional charges and $50 a night was "frozen" (as the receptionist put it). When we checked out after three days, our bill was covered by the voucher. However, we were told our $150 would not be "thawed" for two days. The same happened in Adelaide.

This practice would seem to generate large sums. One night, if both hotels were fully booked, would realise more than $20,000 for Accor. A lot of money for nothing. Is this standard practice with hotels?

Garriock Duncan

Split up on plane

We had a disappointing experience flying with United Airlines to San Francisco. We booked and paid months in advance and lined up three hours before departure but our family of four was allocated seats in three different sections of the aircraft. The cabin crew said as the flight was full there was nothing they could do and suggested after take-off we ask other passengers to move. Our experience may be of interest to other families considering flying to the US on United.

Rob White

Enjoy the good, ignore the bad

I feel sad for Robert Pallister who wrote about the service on Aerolineas Argentinas (Traveller, May 31) during his time in South America, Mexico and Cuba. What a wonderful holiday he must have had, probably seeing such wonders as Machu Picchu, the Nazca Lines and Iguazu Falls.

We all have some problems with airlines but these are minor matters when you are travelling through such wonders of the world.

Malcolm Davison

Shared experience

My husband and I flew with Aerolineas Argentinas to South America like Robert Pallister (Traveller, May 31). We too found service to be non-existent. There was no inflight entertainment and none of the reading lights worked. Flight attendants did not seem interested in the comfort of passengers.

Elizabeth Way

Qantas a Buenos Aires option

Robert Pallister (Traveller, May 31) will be pleased to know that Qantas will start non-stop flights to Buenos Aires from November.

Jannette McGuinness

Same place, different opinions

I was dismayed at the tone of the article by Chris Harrison about St Petersburg (Traveller, May 31). I was there in September and found it to be an interesting city. He didn't even mention the Church of the Resurrection of Christ. I found this church to be a very moving place and I spent a long time marvelling at the beauty. Bleak? Where? I guess this shows that two people can experience the same place and come away with different impressions. Don't be put off: St Petersburg is a great place to visit.

Anne-Marie Kestle

We welcome your travel-related opinions, experiences and letters. Letters may be edited for space, legal or other reasons. Email us at travellerletters@fairfax.com.au including your name, address and phone number.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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